Appearance: Black (duh) with a healthy tannish head. Not completely opaque, but pretty damn close. Nice edging and a touch of lacing.

Aroma: Toasted malt and a bit of coffee in the nose. There’s also a vague spice note that I can’t quite place.

Taste: There’s a bit of coffee and some toasted malts, but they’re both pretty watered down. There’s something vaguely bitter in the finish with maybe a touch of hops. There’s something in the finish that tastes like a fountain soda without enough syrup in it – a metallic soda water kind of taste. Not very pleasant.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light given how dark it is. Lightly carbonated and very clean, doesn’t linger on the tongue.

I wasn’t familiar with Comstock, MI-based Perrin Brewing Company before picking up this black ale, but I’m pretty much always down to try a new Michigan brewery and I generally like black ales. Because of their roasted malt characteristics, black ales tend to make for good winter beers. I have to be honest, though – this didn’t impress me much, primarily because it’s severely lacking in the taste department. It’s pretty watery all through its flavor profile, with only hints of the coffee or roasty notes one would expect from the style. The aftertaste is pretty unpleasant as well, but it does lessen after about 2/3 of a can.

It’s possible that this black ale just isn’t one of Perrin’s better beers, so I’ll definitely still try at least one more of their offerings. I definitely won’t be picking this one up again, though.

Clayton T. Michaels (Senior Editor) is a mild-mannered college English teacher by day, and a craft beer drinking, black metal and grindcore loving misanthrope by night. He's also an award-winning poet, rabid Red Sox fan, and avid consumer of all things WWE. Send him your promos at [email protected] You can also occasionally find him on Twitter as @sbkvlt and more frequently as ironhops on Instagram.

18th Street Brewing Jade American Pale Ale (5.5% ABV) Pour: 12oz can into a snifter Appearance: Pours a lovely dark gold with about an inch of fizzy, persistent head. Not much lacing to speak Aroma: Very hoppy – juicy citrus, almost like orange juice. [...]